Allegheny County has been hit hard by the opioid epidemic over the past few years, with the continued rates of drug overdoses causing concern for residents and elected officials alike.

Some people believe a way to stave off the long term consequences of intravenous drug use in particular could be through needle exchange programs like Prevention Point, a 20-year-old program that operates in neighborhoods throughout the city.

In another contentious move on a busy day, Pittsburgh City Council, in a tight 5-4 vote, approved the $40 million purchase of the former Art Institute of Pittsburgh building.

Located in the city’s rapidly developing Strip District, the building will serve as a new office space for city employees as well as the Pittsburgh Urban Housing Authority and Urban Redevelopment Authority. Previously the city’s housing authority, Urban Redevelopment Authority, and other city departments shared a jointly owned building for office space.

More than a hundred registered speakers took to Pittsburgh City Council chambers to voice their opinions, largely skeptical, of a $2 billion expansion of a University of Pittsburgh Medical Center hospital — catching a few members' ears in the process.

Pittsburgh city council Wednesday voted to hold a bill that would change the Pittsburgh Water and Sewer Authority board and governance, as members try to find a way to keep some council oversight over the city’s water system.

The members now plan to hold two future public meetings in June before a final vote at the end of the month.